We’ve known for a while the strategic alliance Celtic have had with Manchester City, but how we have burrowed into the France international youth setup is, frankly, highly unlikely for a Scottish club.
First came Moussa, then Olivier.
Olivier Ntcham (21) will have known Moussa Dembele (21) from the French youth setup, and Patrick Roberts from their time at Man City. How both flourished at Celtic last season was a prime motivator for the player to head north.
With Olivier and Moussa flourishing in Glasgow, Brendan Rodgers was able to convince a third French youth international, Odsonne Edouard (19), to come to Celtic. We are now an attractive destination for players graduating from one of the world’s most productive international academy environments.
Edouard is here on loan. Celtic have the option secured with both Paris Saint-Germain and the player to turn this into a permanent transfer, should he developed as hoped over the next season.
The story is a little more complicated than just this, however. Odsonne was convicted of shooting someone with an air gun in July and given a suspended sentence. This, frankly, is grossly irresponsible and a suspended sentence is one of the better outcomes for Odsonne. Whatever influences were in his life leading up to this point, a new course needs to be taken in Glasgow.
I have no doubt that this conviction thinned the heard of some potential suitors, unprepared to take the risk on him. He has a year to develop his potential and set himself a new course. If he does, Celtic will acquire a remarkable talent for what in the current market, is a snip.
Patrick Roberts back on loan means that we have retained all first team players from last season, while augmenting the squad with several others. Patrick agreed terms to join permanently, but Manchester City were not prepared to let him go. They, like many others, believe there could be enormous potential on Celtic’s right wing this season. What happens next summer is too far away to contemplate with any certainty.
Jonny Hayes now looks third choice for the right wing slot, but he’s more likely to be utilised as backup for Scott Sinclair on the left. While Patrick Roberts was pursued throughout the summer, we were always going to have to wait until City made their decisions. This left us with only James Forrest for the right wing position for the qualifiers – and James is no stranger to injury. Jonny was available early in the window, so was an appropriate acquisition.
Kundai Benyu (19) arrived from Ipswich after a season on loan at Aldershot. Like Hayes, he can cover for Sinclair in left mid.
Rivaldo Coetzee (20) is the one that got away. He would have competed with Kristofer Ajer for the fourth central defender berth. With Simunovic fit, and Boyata and Sviatchenko both back from injury this month, there was no chance of us splurging big on a central defender. A strategic purchase, like Coetzee, was another matter.
The litmus test for any transfer window is, did we come out of it better than we went into it? Such outcomes are seldom evident the day after the window closes, but having retained all, and added such potential, we have delivered.
What we need to do now is develop Ntcham, Edouard and the others, win the league, perform well in the Champions League, and solidify our position as a club where outstanding talent will flourish and succeed. This is what success looks like for an economically disenfranchised giant in a highly dysfunctional industry.
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Jamesgang @ 10.27…
The revenge of the dogs… :-)
Gordon Parks: ‘Champions League aside…’
:))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Oh, what a tragic fanny.
“Alright, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?…”
Gorgon Parks Of Hamilton.
Bankiebhoy
And let’s not forget the standard railway guage
gauge…
Can you imagine? A footballing backwater, a swamp environment where the ambitionless inhabitants are happy to stagnate, with no desire to improve and move on…and, as a so called sports journalist you have to report on that. That is your daily job. That’s the reason you get up in the morning, to tell the world (west of Scotland) that we are shite and are happy to be shite and will continue to be shite…!!!
What a shitey job that is, what a lack of ambition…but then again, what a shitey newspaper with a shitey football section written by shitey, cowardly so called journalists…They should print their newspaper on a toilet roll…it would save time.
roy croppie on 2nd September 2017 11:27 pm
The Transfer Window:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Love your pictures – very often spark a personal trip down memory lane – and agree 100% with points made re transfer window.
Out wi ma dugs noo…it’s sunday mail/gordon parks time…poo bags in ma pocket…
https://twitter.com/transalpino/status/904065659298078722
Instead of Gordon Parks article spend the same amount of time reading of his namesake Rosa.It’ll be a lot more enjoyable and beneficial.
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS
The Sunday Mail has dropped in quality even faster than it has in circulation. These may well be related.
In my younger days,when it wasn’t a Sunday without a good read through starting from the back pages,it had quality reporting and even higher quality columnists.
The likes of John Fairgrieve never hid his Jamboness,nor Allan Herron the blue hue of his nose,but they were by and large professional.
The same can be said for The Glasgow Herald too.
It’s not just sad to see standards fall so far,it’s actually damaging the game even more than his employer.
TBB…………….
:)
” What Celtic fail to understand is that it’s the meek who are the problem….”
https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/903935617121308672
Transfer Deadline story-caution swerry words in comments
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2017 2:16 PM
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS
The Sunday Mail has dropped in quality even faster than it has in circulation. These may well be related.
The same can be said for The Glasgow Herald too.
*when I was hame there I never bought a paper, first time ever. In fact the only paper I picked up was a free copy of the Flourish fae the back of Our Lady and St Matks.
Gordon Parks The Bus.
F1 Tifosi unsporting as always; booing the winner who finished more than half a minute ahead of Ferrari. Thrashed by Mercedes silver arrows.
I would have thought that Gordon Parks would welcome a return to the days when top names were attracted to Scotland just for the love of Scottish fitba……….
…..names like Flo, De Boer, Butcher, Mols, Souness………
Aye , them were the days, eh Gordon??
GERRYBHOY on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2017 2:48 PM
F1 Tifosi unsporting as always; booing the winner who finished more than half a minute ahead of Ferrari. Thrashed by Mercedes silver arrows.
—–
F1 needs a strong rangers
Here we go again.
This is what it is, right:
In the year 2017, many Irish families, in Ireland are homeless because of economic immigration.
Not an opinion but a fact.
First and foremost yous must understand that there is a difference between economic migrants and refugees.
A refugee finds sanctuary in the nearest land that is safe from whatever it is they are fleeing from.
Secondly, Google these four words : DUBLIN HOUSING CRISIS IMMIGRATION.
Constantly promoting this false narrative on here doesn’t alter the truth of the matter.
Here is another fact:
One in five people in the 26 counties are foreign born.
Is that not enough for yous?
The people of Ireland had no say whatsoever – the most anti-democratic organisation on earth, the EU decides.
Why press on with the false narrative?
Because it obviously doesn’t affect those of you whom are continually promoting this insane open borders policy.
!!Bada Bing!! on 3rd September 2017 2:23 pm
https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/903935617121308672
Transfer Deadline story-caution swerry words in comments
————————————————————————————————–
Really good video – and an education for most of us as to what unscrupulous agents and clubs get up to on deadline day. The Sheff Utd. manager seems a decent guy – hope he does well.
JAMESGANG on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2017 2:57 PM
GERRYBHOY on 3RD SEPTEMBER 2017 2:48 PM
F1 Tifosi unsporting as always; booing the winner who finished more than half a minute ahead of Ferrari. Thrashed by Mercedes silver arrows.
—–
F1 needs a strong rangers
Ha Ha! :))
Regarding good professional journos, the best I recall was John Rafferty of the Scotsman. Honest and straight.
My birthday today, one more, one less, as my old man used to say.
Hail Hail
KINGLuBO
I say this also – Me personally love immigrants. Seeing their wee happy faces is a joy to behold.
There has to be fairness and equality though at the same time.
HH.
BMCUW @ 2.16…I agree. Once upon a time it was a good Sunday read…Nowadays, no thanks! I read a comment on twitter that said, ‘a fish supper would refuse to be wrapped in it’… :-)
16 roads
No Irish families are homeless because of economic immigration
None. Not one
Thats a fact. No need for Google
Many Irish families are homeless because of economic policy of right wing governments who won’t interfere in the “market place ” and provide housing to their citizens.
Thats a fact.
Not an opinion
PJ……………
:))))))))))))))))))))
HH.
WITS
…what you said.
HH.
KINGLUBO,
Many Happy Hoopy Returns.
HH
Anyway
Galway and Waterford about to start the hurling final
Should be a cracker
5 points Galway,One goal Waterford
Galway lead 5 points to 3 after 6 minutes
Bada Bhoy……………..thanks for sharing that.
HH
Catching up from a LONG way back:
Condolences to AoW on his and his wife’s loss. RIP Peggy. A votive candle for her soul tomorrow in St. Winin’s Kilwinning on way to golf.( First full game in 9 weeks… health reasons..)
Dallas ,I think, My Dad said more or less the same as your’s re Bobby Evans though mine put it ‘He’s no our best player but he’s our best Scottish non-Catholic one so that counts more!( Bertie Peacock was better he thought tho I thought the opposite).
Mrs CCB has booked us up for Benidorm from 19th Sep so need a pub for Anderlecht and Sevco(though I might go to a Hun one for the Sevco game..I am from Kilwinning so probably know more of them than they do!!)
As both daughters are participating in a Round Arran cycle for charity (one on the cycle one in the support vehicle) on 16 th I have 2 STs going..not officially together but I will go to the odd seat.. if there are any far travelled supporters want them let me know
They don’t have to be far travelled btw!!!!
Did Parks ever denounce the ambition of Laudrup, Gascoigne, De Boer et al for joining that corrupt dead team?
Without checking…..thought so.
Does HH stand for hail hail or hurting hun?
HH :)
2nd versus fourth next friday
What Is The Stars…………..it seems to be mostly single mothers with kids who are homeless open to correction on this.
Art of war
Condolences to you and your wife and family on the passing of your mother in law Peggy
May she rest in peace
WHATISTHESTARS
There are more questions than answers,and more houses than tenants.
Obviously homelessness is not down to lack of availability,but down to cost and ability to pay.
The UK has the opposite problem-more tenants than houses-but the same result. Housing costs are stratospheric nowadays,and it’s criminal,little more than theft.
You pay the money,you’re left short for other necessities. You don’t pay the money,you’re f….d anyway.
And with average house prices at ten times average wages,buying is hardly an option. The faster you save for a deposit,the faster the prices are rising!
100,000 social houses at £100,000 cost each is £10bn per year. About five years of that would pretty much solve the problem in the medium term. But our government and it seems yours would rather give that to landlords than receive it back in rent.
COSYCORNERBHOY
Just texted Neil about those tickets. And texted you about an hour ago on the same subject.
Switch yer phone on now and again.
Btw,yer horse won.